Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Hexham, Leicester, Lingfield Park and Kempton Park on 7 December 2022.
HEXHAM
Race 3 No5 MISS LAMB (Nap)
Trainer: Jedd O’Keeffe – Jockey: Conor O’Farrell
Dual bumper scorer MISS LAMB brings abundant potential to the table on her reintroduction and only second outing over jumps. From a stable that does well with its small team for the winter, she troubled the judge in the mares’ bumper at Aintree and with her scope for progression can give market rival Royale Dance plenty to think about.
Race 5 No1 CAMDONIAN
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
CAMDONIAN can take out this weakly contested maiden hurdle for the invading Skeltons. The daughter of Shantou is no star, but showed sufficient on her Uttoxeter comeback and first start after a breathing operation to suggest she should be too strong for these foes.
LEICESTER
Race 2 No2 ECLAIR ON LINE
Trainer: Charlie Longsdon – Jockey: Lilly Pinchin
ECLAIR ON LINE has few miles on the clock as a chaser and should come on for his earning comeback run at Fontwell. He can land the spoils at the main expense of Boagrius.
Race 5 No13 HIDDEN BEAUTY
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Paddy Brennan
HIDDEN BEAUTY can make her 7lb sex allowance count against automatic favourite Twinjets in this maiden hurdle. The daughter of Kapgarde has attracted plenty of support on both outings over hurdles at Uttoxeter, latterly before finishing fourth to Katrina in what turned out to be a warm race. She has the wherewithal to raise her game for her bang in form connections.
Race 7 No3 SPANISH PRESENT (Nap)
Trainer: Martin Keightley – Jockey: Sean Bowen
SPANISH PRESENT failed to cut the mustard in a competitive race at Cheltenham which turned out to be a baptism of fire on his first start in a handicap. This fine prospect had greatly impressed in opening his account over jumps at Warwick on previous start and should operate effectively now back in calmer waters.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 4 No2 KITBAG (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Nicola Currie
KITBAG has the form to win this if you look back to his six and a half lengths defeat by subsequent Mill Reef scorer Sakheer at Haydock in September. My only reservation is that he keeps getting unfavourable draws and that can be a big disadvantage round here.
Race 7 No4 CRYSTAL DELIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: William Jarvis – Jockey: Jim Crowley
New Approach colt CRYSTAL DELIGHT a is a beautifully bred individual making his debut for a new stable. Having taken away a cheque in each of his two starts to date, he has a great chance to put one on the board.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 5 No2 WHISPERING ROMANCE
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
Kingman filly WHISPERING ROMANCE needed to dig deep to justify heavy support on her introduction at this course but was green and is likely to go forward a long way for the win. She has a good draw from which to attack and can thwart fellow penalised contender Estidama.
Race 6 No1 COLUMBIDEA (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes – Jockey: Kevin Stott
By Churchill out of a Choisir mare, COLUMBIDEA steps into a mile after cosily putting her name on the scoresheet at Wolverhampton. Although her previous attempts at tonight’s mile have been inconclusive as to whether she stays that far, she is a more settled individual now, with a better chance of getting it.
Race 7 No1 ISLAND BRAVE (Each Way)
Trainer: Heather Main – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
The best race of the night can fall to ISLAND BRAVE, who is closely matched with Rainbow Dreamer from their running here last month. Winner of a Class2 at Haydock in September before being outclassed in Listed company, the selection has a good draw and can be very competitive from the top of the weights.
